Dental device



SePt- 6, 1938- G. M. HoLLENBAcK 2,129,212

DENTAL DEVICE Filed March l2, 1937 mmm El? INVENToRf B'YGeoiyeMJfalknaak,

j ATTORNEY Patented sept. e, 193s UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEElcE DENTAL DEVICE George M. Hollenback, Los Angeles, Calif.. Application March 12, 1937, Serial No. 130,426

3 Claims. This invention relates to dental devices, and

particularly to a novel form of pneumatic mallet and which may form a portion of the dentists eglipment generally carried adjacent the dental c ir.

,The invention is so arranged that the means for creating iiuid reaction, to-wit, an air pump,

, may. operate in conjunction with the mechanism that ordinarily operates in conjunction with the dental engine.

`An object of the invention is to provide a simple mechanism of attractive appearance, small and unobstructive, and which is eillcient in operation..

`Asa brief outline of the practice of the invention, I have provided what I term a hand-piece incorporating a cylinder within which is a piston constituting a loosely moving hammer. This hammer is adapted to be driven against an anvil, which anvil in turn, through a suitable stem connection, is adapted to drive a plugger. The anvil carries a valve, and the end of the hand-piece ,K opposite said anvil is provided with an adjustable valve. The pneumatic means for operating the hammer comprises a cylinder within which is reciprocated a piston. The cylinder communicates,through any suitable means such as a ilexible hose of small cross section, with the adjustable valve in the hand-piece. Normally the valve carried by the anvil is closed to the atmosphere while the opposite valve may be adjusted as to its opening within the cylinder of the hand-piece. Hence, if the valve associated with the anvil is closed to the atmosphere, the piston will reciprocate to a slight extent within the cylinder in accordance with reciprocatory movement of the piston within the cylinder of the pump. `When pressure is placed upon the end of the plugger, the valve associated with the anvil is open to an adjustable extent, dependent upon the pressure, with the result that when the pneumatic pump is actuated, pulsations of said pump are communi- `cated to the piston or hammer within the cylinder and the said piston or hammer is driven forcibly against the anvil, thus causing a blow which is communicated directly to the plugger. The more pressure placed upon the end of the plugger, thegreater the opening of the valve, with the `result that the striking force between thehammer and anvil becomes more definite and greater. This striking force is readily adjusted by the rate of speed of reciprocation of the pneumatic pump and likewise the degree of opening of the valve between the exible hose and the cylinder of the 5 hand-piece and pneumatic pump.

\ An object of the invention is theprovision of a dental device of the character above outlined, which allows controlled pressure or striking force of the plugger against some object, such as the illling to be placed within a tooth.

Another object is the provision of a dental device adapted to condense a filling by either rapid or slow succession of strokes of the plugger and in accordance with the pressure placed upon the plugger.

Another object is the provision of a dental device of the character stated wherein a pneumatically operated plugger may be readily controlled as to its striking force by suitable adjustments convenient to the operator of the device.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an illustration of the dental tool, the plugger member of which is engaging a packing or filling in a carious tooth, together with a pump interconnected with said dental tool through the mediumof a exible member, such as a rubber tube,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one form of dental tool incorporating the invention,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a second form of dental tool having a contra-angled head piece,

Figure 4Vis a cross sectional view on the line 35 4-4 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown in Figure 1 a pneumatic mallet l, a-pump 2, and a 40 flexible hose 3 between the pump and the pneumatic mallet. The pump shown at 2 is simple in design and is adapted for attachment to the bracket adjacent the dental engine. The bracket is shown at 4 and the pump which comprises a 45 cylinder 5 is adapted to house a piston 6 reciprocated by a pulley wheel 1. 'Ihe pulley wheel 'l is provided with a central shaft having a crank arm to which the piston arm 8 is secured. One end of the cylinder is secured to a member 9, which member in turn has secured thereto a stud I0 carrying a set screw I I. 'I'his stud is transversely bored whereby the bracket 4 may be passed through said bore, the device being locked in position by turning the set screw Il. To drive the pulley wheel, I have provided a resilient belt I2, such as generally employed in conjunction with a dental engine,- and this belt is received within the groove of the pulley wheel and the groove in the wheel secured to the shaft of the dental engine, the dental engine not being shown. This comprises the pump in its simplest embodiment and a pump vof this character has been found to be very emcient in use and practically noiseless in operation. In fact, the pump shown in the drawing is substantially the normal size thereof.

The penumatic mallet is of two forms, that shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the form shown in Figure 3. The principle of operation oi all the mallets, however, is identical.

Referring to Figure 2, the mallet includes an elongated hand-piece I3 having a bore I4 of uniform diameter and a screw-threaded counterbore I5 of greater diameter than the bore I4. This counter-bore extends inwardly from one end of the hand-piece. The bore I4 constitutes a cylinder within which is a loose piston or hammer I6. 'Ihis piston is adapted to be reciprocated within the cylinder when the pneumatic pump shown in Figure 1 is operated. One end of the hand-piece is adapted to detachably receive a y valve assembly designated generally by I1. As

shown in Figure 1, the hand-piece is formed with a bayonet slot I8 and the valve assembly is provided with a pin I9 for reception in said bayonet slot to lock said assembly within said hand-piece. This valve assembly includes two members 2liV and 2 I. The member 20 has a shank 22 provided with a bore 23 and a concentric threaded counter-bore 24. Between the counter-bore and the bore 23 is a tapered wall 25 constituting a valve seat. One end of the shank is provided with a. member of enlarged diameter 26, the periphery of which is knurled, as shown at 26' in Figure 1. This member 26 is a hand-piece which permits the insertion of the shank 22 within the bore of the cylinder and in such a manner as to permit locking egagement of the pin I9 carried by the shank within the bayonet slot I8. The second member 2| of the valve assembly includes an enlargement 21 having a serrated periphery 28, and extending from opposite sides of said ,enlargement are members 29 and 30. The member 2-9 is a nippleadapted to receive a portion of one end of the hose 3. The member 30 is provided with a threaded periphery 3i for threaded engagement with the threads 24 and this member 30 is provided with a reduced conical end 32 constituting a valve. The member 38 is provided with a transverse bore 33 inward of the head 32 and an axial bore 34 communicates with the transverse bore 33 and through the members 30, 21 and 29. It is to be noted that the diameter of the threaded portion of the member 30 is greater than that portion having the valve head and the transverse bore 33. It is apparent that relative opening between the valve head and the valve seat is accomplished by rotating the member 2| relative to the member 20 as the two members are in threaded engagement. For the purpose of regulating the opening and maintaining said regulation, a spring finger 35 is secured to the member I1 and is adapted to engage sery rations in the member 21.

The end opposite the hand-piece adapted to receive the valve assembly has secured thereto means whereby blows may be .delivered to a plugger. The means generally is designated by the numeral 36. The said means includes a nose 31 reduced and threaded at one ,end 33 for threaded engagement with the threads I5 of the hand-piece. This nose piece is provided with a cylindrical central bore 38 and an oval cross :sec-l tional bore 40, both bores being in' communication. The nose is likewise provided with one or more diametric ports 4I extending between the periphery of the said nose and the bore 33. Within the said nose is conilned an expansion or elastic tubular chuck 42. This chuck is o! that type provided with longitudinally extending slots, as illustrated'in dotted lines at 43, to the end that any member received within the connues of the chuck is yieldingly held therein. Secured in part within the chuck and extending beyond the inner end 44 thereof is a valve stem or shank 45. 'Ihat portion of the valve stem or shank within the chuck is provided with a half-round notch 43 and the said valve stem is secured to the chuck in the position illustrated in Figure 2 through the medium of a pin or other device, as illustrated at Adapted for reception within the counterbore I5 and of lesser diameter than the said counter-bore is a valve 48 constituting a disc. This valve disc is pinned at 49 to a reduced diameter portion 56 of the stem or shank 45. It will thus be seen that the end 5I oi.' the nose acts as a valve seat for the valve 48 to prevent rotation oi' the valve and its stem or shank, 'and a pin 52 is transversely passed through the said disc and received within an eccentric bore 53 of the nose. The two bores of different diameter within the nose provide an annular shoulder 54 and a coil spring 55 surrounding said stem or shank 52 has one end in engagement with the shoulder 54 and ilzie opposite end engaging an end of the chuck What are known as pluggers may be utilized with the present invention and a type of plugger is shown at 56. This plugger is provided with a condensing point 51 and the shank thereof at its end is provided with a half-round notch 58 adapted to cooperate with the like half-round notch 46 of the stem.

It is to be noted that the bore 48, which is oval in cross section, provides a support for one end of the stem 52, see Figure 5, and a pair of longitudinally extending ports included between the stem and the said bore.

In an adaptation oi.' thatiorm of the invention shown in Figure 2,v I have provided within the cylinder I4 and adjacent one end of the shank 22 a coil spring 59.

That form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 d oes not differ in essential details from that shown in Figure 2, with the possible exception that the form shown in Figure 3 is adapted to operate with a contra-angle portion. Ihe handpiece I3 is provided as before, one end'of which is formed with a threaded counter-bore l5. A coupling 60 has a central bore 6| and a bore 62 oval-shaped in cross section. 'I'his coupling is reduced in diameter and externally screwthreaded as shown at 63 for threaded engagement with the threads I5. coupling is provided with an internally threaded portion 64. Transverse ports 65 extend between the periphery of the coupling and the bore 6I. 'I'he nose66; in the present instance, includes twoangularly related portions 61 and 68, the part 68 terminating at one end in a reduced diameter externally threaded portion 69 for threaded engagement with the threads 64 of the coupling. 'I'his portion 66 is likewise formed with a longitudinally extending bore, which merges with The opposite end of the 65 a bore in the part 01. 'I'he part 61 'is internally threaded at 10 to receive a nut 1i. This nut is provided with an elastic extension or shank 12 and the ends of said extension are inturned or bent inwardly, as shown at 18. Within the confines of the threaded bore i5 is a valve 14 constituting a disc pinned to a stem 15, as shown at 18. The valve seat is shown at 11, the seat being an end of the coupling 60. This stem 15 is received within the bore of the portion 86 of the nose and is provided with an enlarged head 1B having a concavity in the end thereof. Adaptedl for placement against the concavity of the head and within the portion' 61 are balls 19 and 80. Surrounding the stem and within the bores of both the coupling and the nose is a coil spring 8i. One end of said spring bears against the head 18 and the opposite end against a shoulder defined by the central bore of the nose and the bores 62. The tendency of this spring is to at all times urge the valve to'seated position.

The plugger 82 has its shank 82' provided with an annular slot 83. Thus, when the shank of the plugger is forced Within the confines of the resilient extension of the nut, the inwardly directed ends of said extension may be received within the annular groove of the plugger shank. It will be noted that the plugger shank extends through the nut and adjacent the ball 80.

'I'he invention in either of its forms constitutes a pneumatic mallet of small size, particularly adapted for dental use for the purpose of packing and condensing gold, or other iilling material, in the filling of teeth and which strikes direct and very rapid blows adjustable as to force and either continuous or dependent upon touch, the blow being given by the plugger upon the lling material when the condensing point of the plugger is pressed upon the filling and ceasing when the pressure is removed. 'I'he force oi' the blow delivered by the plugger is also dependent, in addition to pressure thereagainst, upon certain adjustments to the end that the minimum or maximum blow to be delivered may be regulated to meet any existing condition desired by its operator.

An advantage of the present device resides in the apparent lack of noise during its operation and, further, upon the fact that as the condensing point of the plugger is pressed against the filling material, the patient is not conscious of any pounding or hammering action. For this reason the device is advantageous due to its physiological principle; the force of all blows is substantially definite in the direction of line of activity; mechanically perfect control in the packing of the iilling material may be maintained; and aesthetically and hygienically the device is sanitary and efiicient.

The operation, uses and advantages of that form of the invention shown in Figure 2 is as follows:

Assume first that the finger piece constituting the enlargement 21 is rotated so as to close the' valve, to-Wit, the valve 32 will be seated against its seat 25. The spring 55 will urge the valve 48 against its seat 5l. 'I'he loose piston or hammer I6 is within the cylinder. If now the belt I2 is passed about the pulley of the dental engine, which dental engine may be under hand or, foot control, and the engine is actuated, the pulley 1 will be driven with the result that the piston 6 will be reciprocated within the cylinder 5. However, the piston i6 will not be moved. Upon opening the valve 32, during operation of the pump, conditions of pressure and rarefaction will occur within the cylinder but not sumcient to cause the piston to perform work, for the reason that that side oi' the cylinder on the opposite end oi' the piston is closed to the atmosphere. However, when pressure is exerted upon the condensing point 51 of the plugger, the plugger will be moved inwardly, which inward movement will be communicated through the chuck and stern to the valve moving the valve from its seat. Communication may be had between one end of the piston and the atmosphere through the ports 40 and 4I and the screwthreaded bore i 5. Obviously the amount of opening of the valve will determine the area of the passageway so far as the valve and its seat are concerned, the other passageways being xed as to area. Thus, pressure upon the plugger may open the valve to a selected extent, with the result that air pressure forward ofthe piston may be relieved to the atmosphere. Obviously, this will allow the hammer or piston to move more rapidly and to strike a harder blow against the face oi' the valve which serves a dual purpose as valve and anvil. It has been found that when the device must be used for packing or driving lling in such a manner that the said device must be held substantially vertically that the spring 58 functions in urging the piston in one direction. Turning movement of the plugger is prevented due to the method of co-engagement between the plugger and the stem, together with the pinned relationship that exists between the nose and the valve disc.

'I'he operation of that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 is identical with that of Figure 2, with the possibleexception that the stem and the shank of the plugger includes therebetween the two balls 19 and di). Pressure upon the condensing point of the plugger will be communicated through the two balls to the st em to open the valve, the coil spring Bi normally urging the valve to seated position.

The pluggers in either form of the invention may be readily removed and other forms of pluggers placed in position oi' service.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications and variations may be made in practicing the invention in departure from the particular showing of the drawing without, however, departing from the true spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic mallet comprising a hand piece, a free piston arranged to reciprocate in said hand piece, means for supplying by a closed flow line connected with one end of the hand piece a conned pulsating fluid pressure to the power end of the piston, a throttle valve controlling the ow in said closed flow line to vary the striking force of the piston, a plugger assembly in the other end of the hand piece engageable by the piston when the same is reciprocated, and means to connect or disconnect the striking face of the piston with the atmosphere to control the operation of the mallet.

2. Apneumatic mallet comprising a hand piece, a free piston arranged to reciprocate in said hand piece, means for supplying a conned pulsating iluid pressure to the power end of the piston in cluding a valve assembly comprising two valve members, one of said valve members being removably tted in one end of said hand piece and provided Wlth a bore and formed with a valve seat, the other valve member being connected with the iluid pressure supply and formed with a shank screw seated in the bore of said first valve member and provided with a bore extending from its outer end to a point near its inner end. and provided with ports extended from the inner end or said shank bore through the sides of said shank to the bore of said first valve member. a valve on the inner end'of said shank for coacting with said valve seat for controlling the flow of fluid through said valve members, a plugger assembly in the other end ot the hand piece engageable by the piston when the same is reciprocated. and means to connect or disconnect the striking face of the piston with the atmosphere to` control the operation of the mallet.

3. A pneumatic mallet comprising a hand piece. a free piston arranged to reciprocate in said hand piece, means i'or supplying a confined pulsating iiuid pressure to the power end of the piston including a valve assembly comprising two valve members, one of said valve members being re- `rnovably fitted in one end of the hand piece and provided with a bore and formed with a valve seat. the other valve member being connectedY with the fluid pressure supply and formed with a shank screw seated in the bore of said first valve member and provided with a bore extending from its outer end to a point near its inner end, and provided with ports extending from the inner end of said shank bore through the sides of said shank to the bore of said ilrst valve member, a valve on the inner end of said shank for coactlng with said valve seat for controlling the ilow of uid through said valve members,l an anvil valve reciprocatively mounted in the other end of said hand piece in the path of movement of said piston, a stem connected to said anvil valve, a chuck connected to said stem, a plugger mounted in said chuck, a spring for normally holding said anvil valve against its seat, and means for controlling the admission of the atmosphere. to the striking end oi the piston when pressure is applied to the outer end of said plugger and said anvil valve is moved'away from its seat.

GEORGE M. HOLLENBACK. 

